Mominul, Taijul steal spotlight

Bangladesh batsman Mominul Haque receives Man of the Match trophy from Chattogram City Corporation AJM Nasir Uddin at the end of the first Test match against Windies at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday. Photo: Masumul Islam

Talha Kamal
Bangladesh bats­man Mominul Haque and spi­nner Taijul Islam were the shining armors for Bangladesh as Tigers beat the Windies by 64 runs in first Test at Chattogram. Mominul Haque’s superlative innings of 120-run was pivotal for Bangladesh to post to strong total of 324 runs in the first innings. On the other hand, Taijul Islam’s six wicket haul in the second innings propelled Bangladesh towards victory.
Pocket dynamo Mominul Haque hits his eighth Test ton during the first innings to match Virat Kohli’s feat of most Test hundreds by a batsman in 2018. Mominul Haque was also awarded as Man of the Match for his impressive batting display. Though Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan also played a major role behind the victory of Bangladesh but the local lad Mominul did the main thing for his team as he played a timely knock of 120-run that helped Tigers to score 324 as well as to recover from early collapse in the first innings.
Delighted Mominul Haque after getting the man of the match award in his immediate reaction said “Thankfully, we won the toss and it was easier to bat first. And we took advantage of that and also got support from the skipper and everyone contributed well for team.”
In recent Test matches, Taijul Islam is pick of the spin bowlers with his nag of taking wickets. Taijul Islam’s figures, the best by a Bangladesh bowler in the fourth innings of a Test. The previous best was Enamul Haque Jnr’s 6 for 45 against Zimbabwe in 2005.
Taijul already has the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in Tests – 8 for 39 against Zimbabwe in Dhaka in 2014. Five-wicket hauls for Taijul in Tests this year – the joint-most among all bowlers. Jason Holder also has four five-fors. All of Taijul’s four five-fors have come in his last three Tests. With 40 wickets in six Tests, Taijul is now the fourth-highest wicket-taker this year.